JUDGMENT :

S.A. Bobde, J.

Leave granted in SLP (C) Nos. 2210-2212/2011, SLP (C) Nos. 3959/2012 and SLP (C) No. 7562-7563/2016.

2. The dispute in these appeals, arises out of the Contract of Affreightment dated 18.1.2008 (hereinafter referred as `the Contract’). Eitzen Bulk A/S of Denmark (hereinafter referred to as `Eitzen’) entered into the contract with Ashapura Minechem Limited of Mumbai (hereinafter referred to as `Ashapura’) as charterers for shipment of bauxite from India to China. The Charter party contains an Arbitration Clause as follows:-

“Clause No. 28

Any dispute arising under this C.O.A. is to be settled and referred to Arbitration in London. One Arbitrator to be employed by the Charterers and one by the Owners and in case they shall not agree then shall appoint an Umpire whose decision shall be final and binding, the Arbitrators and Umpire to be Commercial Shipping Men. English Law to apply. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary agreed in the C.O.A., all disputes where the amount involved is less then USD 50,000/- (fifty thousand) the Arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the Small Claims Procedure of the L.M.A.A.” (emphasis supplied)

3. Disputes having arise